Maxine's New Life Ch. 13a

So there it was, she had let the dog out of the bag. Nothing I could no about it now. Mike would have her complete story by sundown. I knew she wasn't stupid so she had decided that she just didn't give a shit.

I was tempted to suggest Helen, but it all rang too close to the Mosby thing. "Well good luck. I am sure you will find something."

"Oh I'll be fine. I mostly don't like being bored," she admitted.

"I have that same problem," I admitted. "Oh hell, I'll tell yo u what, if you really want to work just to pass the time, I have a friend who might still have an opening."

"Yeah I know, Helen," she said. "Remember, Daddy likes to know everything about everybody."

"Yes it seems that he does at that. So, is that who you planned to go see?"

'Yes, I think I will see if she needs any help. Unlike your last girlfriend, I am actually a cook. I'm not just a pretty face."

"Although you are that too," I admitted.

"Thanks," Cheryl said unenthusiastically.

"Well, good luck with Helen she is a real sweetheart," I said.

"So are we going to walk after this?" she asked.

"I am, and I hoped you would come along," I said honestly.

"I'm glad that you don't need clingy," she admitted. "I don't want to lose the friendship we have."

"It works for me, but you have to know, it's either an exclusive relationship or it's not relationship at all," I said honestly.

"I know that, and I don't want an exclusive relationship. I couldn't function that way, and neither could you. At least for more than a couple of weeks. In your heart you know that it is true." Cheryl said.

I didn't speak for a few long seconds, while I thought about what she said, "So what has this all been about?" I asked.

"It's about, me wanting to be you. You can handle anything, and you can do it being in the big world. I can handle anything in a small world. I think we are alike, so I want to learn to be you in the big world."

"I'm not sure I understand and I doubt that I need to understand. I will be here for you as much as I can, and still be me. That's about all the open relationship that I can handle," I said.

"That's all I can ask," Cheryl said.

"Then let's go walk. There are some old men who need their morning booby fix." I said.

"And I need the ego boost," she admitted.

We gave Mike a chance to get ahead of us, so it was a few minutes before we actually left the warm restaurant. It was a slightly longer ride in the cold to the mall. Since I sensed that things between Cheryl and I had been defined, I enjoyed the ride. Unlike Cheryl I didn't need a structured life, but I did need to know where I stood. Cheryl was going to need serious structure till she learned how to roll with the punches, in a world filled with chaos.

Just as I expected, the old men at the mall beamed when Cheryl passed them in that tight thermal top. I knew just how they felt, since I was also in awe of her body.

Once I got home from breakfast and our walk, I fell sound asleep in the more or less dry bed. I had a hangover, but I doubted that it had anything to do with the three beers I had the night before. I had a feeling the hangover was more from lack of sleep and too much sex.

Even though I had to taken the nap to feel close to normal for the rest of the day, it had been more than worth it. Cheryl was an experience not to be missed. Even better. we were still friends the next day. That was a novel experience for me. It seems that my life is filled with good friends, lovers, people who hate me, and total strangers. I think most people's lives are like that.

I felt like my mind was in a heavy fog for the first hour after I awoke. The thing that snapped me out of it was a call from my Redheaded friend. "Hello Maxine, they have the job for us," his voice over the phone informed me.

"So when am I going to find out?" I asked.

"I will be leaving here in a few minutes and it's a six hour drive. That's going to make it a couple of hours before midnight. I think I will spend the night with a friend and meet with you tomorrow." he suggested.

"Oh, do I know the friend?" I asked with a laugh.

"I think so," he replied with a laugh of his own

I settled in for the evening with a frozen spaghetti dinner and a glass of diet coke. I couldn't really concentrate on the computer even though I tried. There was no point in trying to guess what might be in Red's black bag, so I tried not to speculate. The unfortunate thing is that knowing I shouldn't do it, did nothing to prevent me from speculating anyway.

It got dark early so I was a little concerned when I heard the beep of the gate lock around 7PM. I ran the security tape back and saw the young emt from the Cop Out pass through the gate. I checked the parking lot camera, which had a view of her walking past my door and down to Cheryl's apartment.

Yes, I was jealous. But it wasn't so much, so that I was destroyed by it. Cheryl made it clear from the beginning that it wasn't a relationship, it was just sex. For one of the few times in my life, someone had turned the tables on me. It didn't thrill me, but I could live with it.

I half expected them both to be at my door any minute. I had no such luck. I was debating heading back to the cop out, when the phone played Mag 7. I was sure that the caller would be Cheryl. "Hello," I said.

"Max this is Kate, Martin asked me to call. He wanted to know if you wantedd to have a midnight supper with us?" she asked.

"And what do you want?" I asked.

"I want what Martin wants," she said.

"You know that could go either way. You want to make Martin happy, or you really want this to happen. So which is it?"

"You are really going to put me on the spot?" she asked.

"Of course I am," I replied.

"It is just to keep Martin happy." she said.

"Then tell him I had to stay home to wash my hair," I replied.

"Are you sure?" she asked with relief in her voice.

"Of course I'm sure. I don't want to part of your power plays. not yours and not his either. So count me out. But if you ever want to do it, just to do it, give me a call."

"If I ever do, you are the one I would call," she admitted.

"Good, I promise I will play nice." I was laughing at her and she knew it. It was the story of my life, a little fun for a little while, then watch everyone else having a lot of fun for ten times as long. Like my daddy said, "You win some... you lose some... some get rained out... but the best ones you don't even dress for..." 113 Not what I wanted

"Red what in the hell is going on. We made this agreement less than a week ago and here you are with an assignment." I said angrily. It was real anger, not acting for the cameras, which were recording us as we spoke. The agreement was that the TV people could film, but Swamp Rat got to approve or reedit the files. Even so I didn't plan to be too honest in the meeting.

"Might as well get started. You are finished with this place, and I'm not going back into the field for a long time, if ever." Martin said.

"Poor baby, is this their idea of sending you to your room without supper?" I asked.

"Something like that I'm sure." He paused to give me a serious look, then continued. "So, are you finally ready to hear about the job?"

"Sure hit me with your best shot," I said as a joke.

"You smart off again at me Missy, and I just might do that," he said seriously.

"Sure you will, when you find out you are terminally ill and want a quick way out." I said it with a smile. "Nonetheless continue and I'll be good."

"Okay, there is a small town in rural Georgia. The place is too small for more than one cop and he tries to do as little as possible." Martin said.

"Ah oh, that must make for some interesting residents," I suggested.

"You know it.They are our targets," he said tossing a couple enlarged Mug shots onto the old registration desk..

"Handsome devils," I said sarcastically.

"Yes and even with those good looks, they are still forced to resort to violence."

"Rape?" I asked.

"Rape, extortion, probably a murder or two," Martin said as he looked at the file.

"Who the hell is there to extort from in a town that small?" I asked seriously.

"It looks like everyone, but mostly they are just bullies." Martin said. I looked at him and smiled but didn't say a word. He shook his head no, but he also smiled. He knew I was thinking the easiest thing would be to just to set them up and then kill them. To plan that on TV moved it from self defense, justifiable homicide to stone cold murder. I was not ready for that kind of weight.

"What if one or both of them commits a crime and we can prove it."

"Nobody will testify," Martin said.

"How about if he commits a crime and we can prove it, then I testify." I suggested.

"That might just work. What kind of crime?" Martin asked.

"Well you said he liked the girls, how about he rapes me. I'll be careful. so maybe it will be an easy take down."

"Well it almost beats dropping in from a chopper and just killing the son of a bitch." Martin said.

"Oh, you are always joking like that," I said trying to cover for him,

Martin was no idiot, he realized what he said, but it needed saying. I was not playing with retired cops or bad boy bounty hunters, I was working with an assassin. Martin would have been happy to make him disappear, of course without the TV show's involvement, I might have helped him myself. I had no problem playing judge and jury. I could even be the executioner, if need be.

This one was going to require dotted Is and crossed Ts, or we might be looking at some serious time. Hell maybe they still had Cheryl's old bed available.

"So you are thinking just drop in, heat the good old boys up, and just say no, When he brings it out to play, we call in the cops. Then when his brother tries to intimidate you, we have his ass arrested as well."

"Sounds like a plan to me." I said.

"No, it sounds like an idea, it isn't really a plan."

"For more planning, we need more information." I agreed.

"In that case pack your bags. They tell me Georgia is beautiful this time of year. The crisp air keeps the smell down. Martin suggested.

"Very funny, but I would hold those kinds of jokes to a minimum," I replied. "You know this is likely to end poorly?" I said to Martin. It was true, and it would also make good TV Drama to have a little doubt.

"Mike, you need to pack your shit, if you are going with us," Martin said.

While Mike was on his way back to his apartment, Martin flipped to the last page of the file laying on the reception desk in my living room. The page read in big letters, I'm going to Jam the audio feed, look as though you are packing while we talk.

I watched closely while he held up what looked like a Bic lighter. He twisted the top part of the case then said. "Go on with your packing while we talk. First of all, I hope we can find a way to get some law enforcement people to take these guys down. However. if we can't get anyone interested, we need to find a way to end this problem creatively."

"We are talking permanently end it," I suggested

"About as permanent as it gets," he said.

"Why is the boss interested? I asked it as I continued to put things in a half duffel bag."

"The older brother raped the wrong girl. He has intimidated her and the other witnesses. So he got out of it, as he always has in the past."

"So who was she?" I asked.

"Her Grandfather received the CMH on D Day in 1942. Swamp Thing, as you like to call us, never forgets, and we never forgive. So this is a freebee, but it still gets done right."

"Then it is something you would prefer to do yourself?" I asked.

"Don't matter who does the deed, just so long as it gets done. Remember me telling you that there was no money for our operations. On this one, forget what I said. We get whatever it takes, anything from a kilo of smack, to a hellfire missile."

"First let's see what I can do," I suggested. "Turn that thing off we might want this on the record."

I pressed the menu and speed dialed the number I found in my contract list. "Anya, this is Maxine in Aster. Give me a call, we might be able to help each other." I closed down the phone then turned to Martin. "So Red, let's go meet Thomas and Blain Atwood."

"And let them know hell has come to Georgia," he suggested.

"Nothing like it since Sherman," I said with a giggle. Might as well go along with the macho bullshit, I thought. I made a second call. That one was to Lois.

"Lois it's me Max. Honey I have to go out of town for a few days. I'm not sure how long I'll be. It is about this TV thing. So if anything comes up call Jennifer. I'll text you the number."

"Sure Maxine, do you need me to do anything else?" Lois asked.

"No just call Jennifer, if you need anything or anything out of the ordinary happens. I'm going to put a note on my door to tell the other tenants." I said just before we rang off.

I speed dialed another number. "Cheryl honey, I have to take a road trip for a few days. It's really nothing. We are just going to look at some property out of town. The Irishman and I will be back in a couple of weeks at the latest."

"Can't I come along?" she asked.

"Maybe next time. This one is going to be a bore," I informed her.

"I don't know, he is kinda cute. I saw him when he came in after lunch." she said.

"You aren't celebrating anything are you?" I asked.

Cheryl laughed and said, "No, but all of us in one bed might be an experience worth trying once."

"Don't tell me Johnathan knows about that too?" I said with a laugh.

"No, but you just told me it's true. There was gossip about you and multiple partners."

"It's all lies," I looked up to see Martin tapping his watch. "Look hon, I have to go. Lois is taking care of the place while I'm gone. I would have asked you, but you need to talk to Helen."

"I understand, don't worry no harm no foul," she said.

"I have to go now, hugs and kisses," I said. Then I closed the phone down.

"Let's get moving. It's a long drive to Hayseed Georgia," Martin said.

"The name is Haymarket, but Hayseed will do," I replied. I wanted to take a few of my own things, so we made three trips from the apartment to his car. "So, where are we going to stay, I can't imagine a motel in Haymarket?"

"Tonight. in a Motel a few miles away out on the interstate. Tomorrow we have to find a place in Haymarket to live and open our church,"

"You are serious about that stupid cover?" I asked.

"Don't matter what we use, I doubt that they will buy it." Martin said.

"Well Red, we better be ready to do some fancy tap dancing." I suggested.

"Dance or die pilgrim," he said in a John Wayne imitation. It actually wasn't too bad,

"Pretty much," I agreed.

The drive was long and boring. Mike was somewhere behind us, but out of range of the mic so we talked openly.

"For the TV we keep pretending that we are going to go to the cops and to court, but what we really do is look for a way to do the deed and make it look legit," Martin suggested.

"I have a call in to a friend at the FBI. They might have something we can use,"

"Good, having friends always helps," he said.

"I would be surprised, if my friend knows any more than yours," I suggested.

"What we really need is a local connection. Try to work out one of those with your friend."

Right, we spent most of the time with bad country music and conversation about other things. There just wasn't much we could do until we got there and got a read on the place, We needed to know the lay of the land, and where the bodies were buried,

We stopped somewhere in South Carolina for dinner that night before we pushed on into Georgia. Haymarket was fifty or so miles southeast of Atlanta but it might as well have been a thousand miles and a hundred years away. Even though we weren't staying, and the town was dark, Martin insisted on driving though it. The town was even smaller than Aster, by at least half. I couldn't see it, but I knew that it would be depressingly dirty in the daylight.

"Well we are going to make big news just by showing up," I suggested.

"Too bad it's so late, or we could just start now," Martin suggested.

"Martin, we get the info from my FBI contact, then we scout this out. This is not Baghdad," I informed him,

"Hell Max, even Baghdad wasn't Baghdad," he said with a mysterious look.

The phone played the mag 7 theme before I could dig it out of my purse. Martin was laughing his ass off. "I did not do that," I explained.

"Hello Anya," I said into the phone. "How you like DC?" I asked.

"If I ever finish this training, it might be okay. So what you got for me?" she asked.

"Thomas and Blain Atwood, I need to know what you can find out, If they are not on your radar, then get me the name in some Georgia lawdog. I'm gonna shake their tree," I admitted.

"Okay, but you be careful till I get back with you. You got lucky with the Russians, that kind of luck only comes around once."

"You know me, I'm the poster child for careful. Never met a condom I didn't like," I said.

"I'll get back to you tomorrow," Anya said and then cut the connection.

"So lets go meet up with Mike and pretend we are just going to play games with the terrible two," I suggested. "You are going to have to manage this story to keep us out of jail," I suggested.

114

The more I thought about the cover story, the more I liked it. It would be a cover story that was so obviously bullshit, that it would cause the bad guys to sit up and take notice. In the mean time we could work on gathering enough information to form a second more believable cover story. Something that would get the brothers grim, to take a run at us. Since we had Mike recording everything, we just had to be careful what we said. The flip side was that we would have the brothers grim dead bang when we got them.

I had done it before, but Red was most likely going to be a problem. He was a little too macho to let the scene play out to its necessary ending. He would want to just kill the brothers the very first time they took a run at us. I was going to have to watch him closely.

Everything remained up in the air at that time. At that moment I was ready for bed and sleep, not sex. The motel was one of those things with cracker boxes stacked on top of each other. Little more than a glorified version of a flop house. It didn't matter at all to me. the bed was all I had in mind.

The bed was a king sized behemoth, so there was plenty of room for an orgy, if one was so inclined. Too bad I wasn't in the mood. I had the brother's grim on my mind, nothing more. I was pleasantly surprised to find that Martin was the same.

It was all about the job for both of us it seemed. The woman in me was just a little disappointed. Sure I was hurt that he couldn't at least make an attempt, so that I could refuse him. Oh well, there was always the first night after the danger began. Nothing could beat 'glad to be alive' sex.

I wasn't surprised when Mike called our room at 7AM. "Hey Maxine, is the Irishman available?" he asked.

"Sure," I said then turned away as I handed the phone to Martin.

""Hello," he said then he listened. "Okay but this might be the last time we can be seen together." After he hung up he said to me. "Breakfast with the TV man," he said it with obvious displeasure in his voice.

"Okay, we will need to work him into the cover story anyway. This is one small town. Three strangers are going to be linked, whether it is what we want or not." I said seriously.

"Yeah, I suppose so, but how are we going to explain this little troupe falling out of the sky." Martin asked.

"I thought about this last night. Then I guess I thought some more in my sleep. It seems to me that we need two cover stories. One for the police and mayor types,, and a second one for the brothers grim. We can use Mike in both of them. Mike can be our bit player, so to speak."